Military veterans and representatives from CDS Housing will attend a Town Board meeting in Geneseo tonight to advocate for an affordable housing project town leaders seemingly nixed earlier this month.

The project would construct 40 apartments on Volunteer Road, eight of which would be reserved for formerly homeless veterans. Veterans living in the project would receive free assistance from the Warrior Salute Veterans Services, which provides clinical therapies, case management and transitional housing to veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma.

The remaining units would be open to seniors age 55 and over, who do not qualify for low-income housing and cannot afford market-rate apartments but do qualify for affordable housing.

CDS Housing staff was "shocked and disappointed by statements made during the September 13th town board meeting.," according to a company statement. "It is incomprehensible to the entire CDS Housing and Warrior Salute Veterans Services teams that the board says they support veterans, but as Board Member Matthew Griffo mentioned several times during the meeting, would 'never vote for this project.'"

Previously, the Geneseo board has expressed support for the project.

But, according to the online news outlet GeneseeSun.com, Geneseo Town Supervisor William Wadsworth said he is concerned that a previous iteration of CDS Housing plans for the site indicated housing would be provided for a specific group of veterans, "women who had suffered some kind abuse that were going to be in a partial care situation."

He called the current proposal a "bait and switch."

Town Board member Matthew Griffo told the Genesee Sun that he is opposed to adding any more affordable housing to Geneseo.

Mark Curletta, COO of CDS Life Transitions, said the organization devoted considerable resources to the project and meeting all requirements of Geneseo's Planning Board under the belief that the initiative had town support.

"We have made this financial commitment because it is the right thing to do," he said. "The veterans and seniors of Livingston County deserve an affordable housing community like this. Now, the Geneseo Town Board is flip-flopping, despite previous approvals of the project, and neglecting these underserved populations who deserve their support."